Improvement in movable cloth-plates for sewing-machines



. n. L. LEEGH. Movable Cloth-Plates for Sewing-Machines. 0. 142,404. Patented September2,1873.

UNITED STATES 1i FFIOE.

ROBERT L. LEEGH, OF WINTERSET, IOWA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,404, dated September 2, 1873 application filed July 14,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. LEEGH, of Winterset, in the county of Madison and State of Iowa, have invented anlmprovement for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification My invention is a simple means of securing the cloth-plate of a sewing-machine without the aid of screws, and in such a manner that my invention.

A is the movable cloth-plate. B is the base upon which it is mounted. a a a are cornerposts supporting the cloth-plate. The fourth corner-post is concealed by the plate. 12 is one of the hook-form dowel-pins, rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the under side of the cloth-plate, and at points corresponding with the positions of the'rear cori ner-posts a a. A horizontal hole in each corner-post receives the end of the hook or pin 0 and prevents the plate A from moving in any direction except rearward. A second pin, 1), is connected with the plate in the same manner near the opposite rear corner-post. c 0 represent levers pivoted to the front and under side of the plate A. Their inner ends are hinged together and their outer ends are bent and shaped to fit into suitable catches at or near the tops of the front corner-posts a a. The form of thecatchesinthe posts, and the ends of the levers entering them may vary,

but should be so shaped that when the ends of the levers c c engage the catches they will be held rigidly and lock the plate firmly to the corner-posts a a. cl is a spring, of suitaa manner that it will move in and out with the levers when they are operated.

The drawing represents the plate in posi: tion with parts broken away to show the attachments.

To remove it, simply press upon the thumbpiece f. This will relieve the levers c c from the pressure'of the spring at and disengage their ends from the catches in the front corner-posts a a. taise the front edge of the plate to free it from the front posts, and then pass it rearward under the presser-foot until it is entirely free.

To put it on. pass it from the rear to the front under the presser-foot and allow the pins b to engage the holes or eyes in the rear corner-posts, and then press it down fiat upon the tops of the four posts. The ends of the levers c e co-operating with the catches on the front posts will press back the spring at and allow the ends of the levers to enter the catches in or on the front posts. As soon as they have entered, the reaction of the spring will press and hold them in place,and securely lock the cloth-plate in its position.

By this means the cloth-plate can be instantly attached and locked and rigidly held, and also removed at pleasure without requiring the time and trouble of inserting and withdrawing four screws every time the plate is moved.

I claim as myinvention- The movable clothplate A connected with the corner-posts a by means of the pins 1), levers 0, spring d, and thumb-piece f, substantially as described, and for the purposes spec ified.

ROBERT L. LEEGH.

Witnesses:

Ransom THOMAS, GEORGE KooNs. 

